A bill banning assault weapons, however, did not clear the legislature.

"I think the feeling right now around assault weapons, at least in Colorado, is that they're so hard to define what an assault weapon is," Hickenlooper said.

Hickenlooper said the state's new laws "tighten up a little bit things like universal background checks, which clearly make a significant difference, that's where we put our initial focus."

Hickenlooper said in Grand Junction he faced about 200 people protesting the gun-control initiatives and rallying in support of the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.

"We had a blunt, honest dialogue," the governor said. "They believe their guns and the Second Amendment are part of American life.

"Their integrity and honesty, their conviction, you know, you can't challenge that," Hickenlooper said. "We've just got to be sure we get to the same facts."

Hickenlooper also discussed the ongoing investigation in the Tuesday slaying of the executive director for the Colorado Department of Corrections, Tom Clements.

The primary suspect in the slaying, Evan Ebel, was killed in a shootout with Texas law enforcement officers Thursday.

He was the son of Jack Ebel, a Boulder lawyer and friend of Hickenlooper.

"I mean, the whole week sort of felt like I was in — I was caught in a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from, right? That all these things kept happening to people that I loved," Hickenlooper said.

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

It didn't take long for Denver music observers to notice Plume Varia. Husband and wife Shon and Cherie Cobbs formed the band only two years ago, but after about a year they started finding themselves on best-of lists and playing the scene's top venues. Full Story